The manager protests too much, methinks 

Posted 9:20 AM by Sean
Okay, how many articles have I seen recently in which Mike Scioscia denies that Jose Molina is Bartolo Colon's "personal catcher?" Let's say three or four, shall we? Jose's caught all five of Colon's wins in his current streak, and eight of his ten wins for the season. After a few days of flat-out denial that J-Mo is the man on Colon's days, Scioscia is quoted as follows today:

"With our catching situation, all three guys are terrific, so [a personal catcher] shouldn't be an issue," Scioscia said. "But at the same time, some guys feel more comfortable with some catchers. The bottom line is production. If a pitcher is executing his pitches better with some catchers, it's going to reflect in performance, and you have to look at that."

My question would be something along the lines of "what's the big damn deal, anyway?" Let us consult Bull Durham:

Crash Davis: I never told him to stay out of your bed.
Annie Savoy: You most certainly did.
Crash Davis: I never told him to stay out of your bed.
Annie Savoy: Yes you did.
Crash Davis: I told him that a player on a streak has to respect the streak.
Annie Savoy: Oh fine.
Crash Davis: You know why? Because they don't---they don't happen very often.
Annie Savoy: Right.
Crash Davis: If you believe you're playing well because you're getting laid, or because you're not getting laid, or because you wear women's underwear, then you ARE! And you should know that!

At this point, after all the yapping about personal catchers, I'd be surprised if Colon didn't screw up throwing to anyone else from the sheer psychological effect it would have on him. So let's just keep writing Jose's name in the lineup card on those days until - inevitably - Colon gets knocked around and can go back to throwing to anyone.

Oh, and let's hang on to the red glove for awhile, too.